Running-switch for electric vehicles.



C. A. WARD. RUNING SWITCH F0?. ELECTRFC VEHICLES. APPLICATION man MAR. 3o. i911'.

Patented oon-9,1917.

CHARLES A. VIARD, OENEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR T 'WARD INICU'JTDE VEHICLE C0., 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

RUNNING-SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet; e, 1917.

Application filed March 30, 1917.., Serial N o. 158,606.

citizen of' the United States, and al resident f of New Rochelle, in the countyoi' Westches- ,ter and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Running-Switch for Electric Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. l

This invention lrelates to .electric switches of the plug and socket type .and it has for its general ob'jcctsto improve`and simplify the construction so as Lto be reliable and eflicientin use, of durable and substantial form, and so designed that an effective contact can be maintained between the socket members and plug. y t,

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a switch havingl a novel .arrangemenhof socket members into which a tapered plug isL inserted, the socket members having on their free ends an eneircling ring of insulation for holding the socket members to ether and serving to adjust them to tighten the socket when the same becomes worn.'

Still another object is the provision of means on the plug ind socket whereby the insertion of the plug produces a rotary motion to insure an effective electrical connection, and furthermore, the plug is hollow, and entering the bore is a stud of insulation risin from the base on which the socket inem ers are fastened.

With snch objects in View, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of arts which will. be set forth with particuarity in the following description and claims appended hereto. i

In the accompanying drawing, 4which illustrates one embodiment of the invention and rwherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views,

Fig. 3 is a. transverse section on the line' 3,.-3, F ig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View on the line 4 4, Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view ongthe line- 5.5,Fig. l. Y.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a support on which is fastened a casing or box 2 of the switch, the latter having an opening 3 at one side for the cable to enter thepbox. The top of the box has an opening '4 for permitting access to the interior for assembling the parts, the top opening 4 beling normallyvelosed by cover plate 5. In

the bottom of the box 2 is secured by bolts 6a blockof insulation 7, and on this is fastened ,the spaced socketmembers 8 and 9 'which are approximately semi-cylindrical and oppositely disposed so that together the said members constitute a socket which tapers downwardly. Insertible in the socket is a tapering plug 10, which, like the socket members, is of conducting material, and on the upper end of the plug is a T- shaped handle 11 for convenience in inserting or removing the plug. The members 8 and 9 are provided with external. threads 12 onl which is screwed a fiber ring 13 which serves to keep the outer ends of the members in proper relation, and which enables the members to be drawn together to compensate for wear. The socket members have on their base portions terminal sockets or equivalent means 14 for receiving the wiresv of the cable which cntersthe box through the opening 3, the said conductor sockets 14 beingat the sideoitI lthe switch socket nearest the opening 3. The cover 5 has an opening 15 through which the plug 10 and ring 13 project. If desired, the socket members `may be formed with coarse-pitched f1-cows 16, and on the plugl() are lugs 17 te enter the grooves, so that as the plug lO'is inserted it has a 'rotary motion whereby a wiping engagement between. the socket members and plug is produced, whereby the best electrical connection is obtained between such parts. The plug 10 has a chamber 1,8 into which projects a stud 19 of im sulation, which rises from the block 7.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will` be' readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described. the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

2. A switch including a pair of members,

a plug insertible between the members, and a ring of insulation for adjustable connection with the members for holding the same against spreading apart and for adjusting the members toward each other in compensation for wear.

3. A switch including spaced socket members, a plug insertible between the members, and a ring of insulation having a threaded connection with the free extremities of the socket members for holding the same in proper relation to each other.

4. A switch including a pair of socket members, a body of insulation on which the members are mounted and having a stud er;a tending upwardly between the members, and a plug insertible between the members and having a chamber into which the stud extends.

5. A switch including a plurality of socket members, a plug insertible between the members, and means between the plug and members for producing a rotary motion of the plug during insertion or removal.

6. A switch including a plurality or' socket members, a plug insertiole between the members, means between the plug and members for producing a rotary motion of the plug during insertion or removal, and means acting simultaneously on the socket members for holding the same in proper relation to each other.

CHARLES A. WARD. 

